The death of a young Zimbabwean woman, who was brutally beaten in an attack on her and her father near their Guruve farm, has left the farming community “shell shocked.”

Catherine Francis was out walking with her father Malcolm on Saturday when they were attacked by an as of yet unidentified group of suspects.

Full details of the incident are not yet clear, but it is understood the pair was found beaten and unconscious by a family member, after the attack took place.

Malcolm remains in a critical condition in hospital and is still being treated for serious injuries.

But Catherine passed away on Wednesday as a result of the brutal beating.

Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) President Charles Taffs told SW Radio Africa that he was outraged that these violent attacks are still continuing against the farming community.

“This is one of many murders that have taken place on farmers and farm workers, and it’s just continuing,” Taffs said.

The ZANU PF land grab campaign, launched over a decade ago by the Robert Mugabe regime, has seen the farming community, including tens of thousands of farm workers, face serious violence and deaths. To date, the persecutors of the violence have never been brought to book.

“What we are seeing is a breakdown of the rule of law and people are doing what they please. The law has been selectively applied for 14 years and people are taking advantage of it, and the result is lawlessness,” Taffs explained.

He added: “From the community’s point of view, it’s like we aren’t even part of society, the white farming constituency. We are Zimbabweans and have every right to be here. What is happening is against every human rights charter this country has signed up to.”

“It is disgusting what has happened and I condemn it in the strongest terms,” Taffs said.

COMMENTS

Lord please reveal these murderers to us. They are of the most heinous and I ask that you deal with them accordingly.I pray for Malcoms recovery and that he will know you presence through this ordeal. In Jesus Name. Amen

The reality is nothing will ever happen. A nephew of mine was assaulted and killed in front of witness(minibus). Case was reported .the accused disappeared. The police docket disappeared. The GNU politicians were asked for help,both parties, with witnesses and names. Nothing was done. Years have gone by.
There is no healing.
My condolences to the family.

Lord surely it is time for You to act for they have regarded Your laws as void.” Our leaders have spent years promoting hatred, revenge and racialism and tribalism. Zimbabwe is reaping that hared. Leaders should promote healing and forgiveness. RGM must go and ZPF will be judged for bringing such division and destruction to our nation. Repent!

“Racism in Zimbabwe refers to racial discrimination against White people communities.The government forcefully evicted them from their farms and committed ethnic cleansing against them.” Source – Wikipedia

This is more flagrant example of inhumanity now in Zimbabwe. This a mob , who murdered Catherine Francis, inspired by the tyrant Robert Mugabe beats, robs, murders people purely because of the colour of their skins or political affiliation. Whites are forced to live outside the protection of a rule of law.

Am particularly ashamed because I come from Guruve. RIP Catherine and wish Malcolm speed recovery. God will punish these murders. Today “Biggie Chitoro” is in hellfire

Deepest condolences to the family.
Another Zanu sponsored and endorsed murder that they will call “Land Reform” as they have over the last 14 years.
Zanu did this in Matabeleland in the 80’s with 20 000 murder victims – the Zanu modus operandi remains the same…..40 years on.
What about the 6 week old Natasha Glennie that the Zanu heroes murdered in the 70’s? This is the Zanu heroism that the likes of Mbeki and Scoones effectively endorse.

It is sad that this type of violence continues unabated. Everything bad that is happening now has to be put on the shoulder of the authorities if you can call them that.Their job is sopposed to be to protect the vulnerable in our society. At the moment the remaining white farmers are in that category. But then again whats new? They have failed to help flood victims. They have failed to arrest the killers of Martin and Gloria Olds. The know who the killers of Talent Mabika are and they do nothing. These people must be treated as collaborators for all these crimes as they surely know who perpetrates them. For all we know it is arranged by them. Trying to get people so scared that they desert they properties so that they can loot the last remaining structures that belong to these persecuted families. My sincere condolences to the families and friends of this Lady. I am Doctor do little a black Zimbabwean and I share your grief.